Throughout the offseason, SB Nation will host surveys for NFL fans, sponsored by the folks over at FanDuel Sportsbook. For Pride of Detroit, we are tasked with fielding questions from Detroit Lions fans, and with the 2026 NFL Draft just over two weeks away, we’ve steered this week’s question in that direction.
Most people have settled in on the fact that the Lions’ top two needs are offensive tackle and edge rusher, and the majority of mock drafts are predicting the Lions to select an offensive tackle with pick No. 17 in the upcoming draft. So, for this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey, we’ve asked the following question and provided fans six options to choose from, listed below in alphabetical order. If the Lions indeed plan on drafting an offensive tackle in the first round…
Which OT would you prefer the Lions to draft?
- Spencer Fano, Utah
- Monroe Freeling, Georgia
- Max Iheanachor, Arizona State
- Caleb Lomu, Utah
- Blake Miller, Clemson
- Kaydn Proctor, Alabama
Note: Francis Mauigoa is not included because he’s unlikely to be available at 17 overall as a potential top-five player in this class.
Fano has spent the majority of this draft cycle as one of the top two projected offensive tackles in this class. While experienced and wildly athletic, his arm length measurement has raised some questions about his ability to stick at right tackle in the NFL, which could cause him to slide.
Freeling is inexperienced but young and arguably the best athlete in this group. A natural left tackle with upside, the team that drafts him will get a player who needs to gain experience, but could end up with the highest developmental ceiling of the bunch.
Iheanachor is also inexperienced, but his natural talent is just scratching the surface of what he can eventually become. He doesn’t get as much hype as the other names on this list, but there’s a scenario that some NFL teams may like his fit in their scheme and may value him higher than anticipated.
Lomu is an NFL-ready pass blocker and natural left tackle. He often gets overlooked because he needs to build core strength to improve his run-game production, but his pass protection skills will be coveted by NFL teams, especially those who believe he has the frame to add the necessary strength in an NFL weight room.
Miller is by far the most experienced of this group, and while he has 54 starts at right tackle under his belt, he’s still just 22 years old with plenty of potential for growth. Analysts were late to the game in properly evaluating his production, leading to an undervaluation of his talent. As analysts are finalizing their boards, you’ll notice Miller has climbed firmly into the middle of the first round on most boards.
Proctor is reportedly a player to watch for Detroit, as NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah is reporting that the Lions “love” his game. A mountain of a man, Proctor has rare movement skills that you don’t often find in a 6-foot-7, 352-pound offensive tackle. There are questions about his ability to keep the weight off, and a unique/brief transfer to Iowa (only to return to Alabama two months later) that needs to be explained. However, the Lions may feel okay gambling on his rare size and athletic combination when they have a leader like Penei Sewell in the position room.
Alright, and with that said, please vote in the survey below, share your feedback in the comments, and check back later this week for the results.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Lions fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
